'Food is art': Chef carves edible creations

Professional food sculptor David Leathers high-five’s young members of his audience at the West Point Farmers’ Market June 30. The Tupelo-area chef demonstrated several animal carvings with fruits and vegetables.Photo by: Kelly Tippett

A “hatchling” Leathers carved at the West Point Farmers’ Market emerges from a cantaloupe shell.Photo by: Kelly Tippett

Six-year-old Davis Lancaster of Starkville holds a squash “monkey” at the West Point Farmers’ Market. Davis’ parents are Eric and Anna Lancaster.Photo by: Kelly Tippett

A cantaloupe cat was another of Leathers’ food sculptures at the Market.Photo by: Kelly Tippett

Don''t bother telling David Leathers not to play with his food. He can''t help it. And, in this case, that''s a good thing. The Fulton native has turned his infectious enjoyment of food into a career as a food sculptor and chef.

As adept at entertaining as he is at carving, Leathers captured the attention of visitors to the West Point Farmers'' Market June 30. Under the pavilion at Mossy Oak on Highway 45 Alternate, the owner of Food Stylin in Tupelo deftly turned cantaloupe into cats and birds and squash into monkeys.

Along the way, he delighted some of the youngest market-goers, demonstrating that "food is art." Leathers is on a mission to also show elementary school-age kids the light about healthy eating. He makes appearances at schools nationwide, emphasizing healthier alternatives to junk food and teaching children hands-on culinary skills they can absorb at almost any age.

Leathers'' skills, of course, bridged all age groups.

Robin Perry of West Point is a caterer, bartender and cake and cupcake designer.

"It was great to see someone be so artistic with food. Food is one of my many passions and his craftsmanship was amazing," Perry said. "He was wonderful and very interactive with the kids, which made his performance even better."

Of the West Point appearance, Martha Allen of the West Point/Clay County Growth Alliance and Farmers'' Market remarked, "It was very successful! We had a good crowd of children, young adults and adults."

Starting young

Six-year-old Davis Lancaster was in the West Point audience. His parents, Eric and Anne Lancaster, own Lancaster Farms in Starkville and are regular market vendors.

"My favorite was the monkey," Davis said of the carver''s menagerie. "I got to keep it," he added. When asked if he thought he might like to be a food sculptor one day, he answered, "I think I would do that."

Leathers'' own best memories, he says, come from growing up and helping in the kitchen of his parents'' restaurant in Fulton.

At 18, he attended culinary school in Pennsylvania, graduating valedictorian of his class. He went on to study at the Andy Mannhart Academy in Luzern, Switzerland. An outgoing personality and passion for cooking and carving make him a natural for TV appearances, such as on TLC Extreme Food. He''s also made three instructional DVDs on the subject of carving. (Check them out at foodstylin.com/products.)

His most time-consuming projects at hand revolve around production of a children''s cooking show called "I Play with Food," expected to air on PBS this fall.

"Right now, my favorite foods to work with are cheese and tallow," Leathers shares on his web site. (Tallow is a hard, fatty substance from rendered animal fat.) "My favorite fruit is watermelon." His creativity doesn''t stop at vegetables and fruit; he''s also carved in ice, chocolate and butter.

"A carving will last for three to four banquets, as long as you take care of it," says the sculptor. "Picking under-ripe fruit will help it to last," he adds, as a tip.

Of course, Leathers'' talents don''t stop at artistic food presentation. The 30-year-old also adds a special touch to recipes for everything from granola to haute cuisine. Included today are some of his suggestions for simple, healthy ways to get your day off to a good start.

Visit foodstylin.com to learn more about this unique Mississippi food artist.

BERRY BANANA SMOOTHIE

Makes two 8-ounce servings

One banana

1 cup frozen blueberries or strawberries

1/2 cup soymilk or organic low-fat milk

1/4 cup orange juice (100 percent juice)

Combine all the ingredients in a blender, cover and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.

EASY PEASY PANCAKES

One egg, preferably free-range or organic

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup soymilk or organic low-fat milk

1 cup self-rising flour

Pinch sea salt

In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg, vanilla and milk together. Add the flour and salt and stir just to combine.

Heat the non-stick griddle over medium heat. Spoon batter (2 tablespoons) onto the griddle and cook until bubbles form, about two minutes. Flip and cook until other side is golden, about two minutes. Serve immediately and with fresh fruit, honey or syrup.

CINNAMON RAISIN GRANOLA

Makes 6 cups

4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup unsalted sunflower seeds

1/2 cup chopped nuts of choice (almonds, walnuts, pecans)

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup canola oil

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup raisins

In a large bowl, combine the oats, sunflower seeds and nuts. In another bowl combine oil, honey, cinnamon and vanilla. Pour over oat mixture and stir to coat.

Spread in a large shallow baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the oven and add the raisins. Allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight container. (Granola will become crunchier as it cools.)